Tool chest



A. H. OLIVER- Sept. 23, 1952- I TOOL CHEST 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April6, 1950 A. H. OLIVER Sept. 23, 1952 TOOL CHEST '3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledApril 6, 1950 INVENTbR ATTORNEY Sept. 23; 1952 A. H. OLIVER TOOL CHEST 5I Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 6, 1950 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 23, 1952UNITED T STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,611,479 'rooL oHns'r Abe H. Oliver,Azusa, Calif. Application April 6, 1950, Serial No. 154,271

This invention relates toaitool chest and it is wardly to facilitateaccess within the body member together with means for effectivelylocking said side doors in closed position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a chest includinga top drawer supporting a slidable locking bar providing means wherebyoutwardly swinging side doors may be held closed. I

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved toolchest whereby certain advantages are attained, as will be hereinaftermore fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceedto describe the same with reference to-the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Figure lis a view in side elevation of a tool chest constructed inaccordance with anvembodiment of the invention; I

FigureZ is a View in end elevation, with a portion broken away of thechest as illustrated in Figure 1; I

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on theline 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on theline 4-4 of Figure 1';

Figure 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantiallyon the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is. a fragmentary view partly in top plan and partly in sectionshowing the locking bar-in releasing position;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary vertical section taken lengthwise through theupper portion of the chest, with portions in elevation;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantially onthe line 8-8 of Figure 3;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the upper centralportion of the chest; and

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view in elevation'of the side of the chestopposite to the portion illustrated in Figure 9.

In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, B denotes 3 Claims. (Cl. 20616) the body of desired dimensionshaving a bottom wall I, end walls 2, and the relatively low side walls3, the major portions of the sides being normally open from the walls 2to the open top of the body B. Substantially midway of the sides of thebody B is a partition plate 4 extending from one end wall 2 to the otherand also extending from the bottom wall I in perpendicular relationthereto, to a desired distance-above the open or top end of the body B.This plate 4 is securely attached to the end walls 2 or otherwiserigidly maintained in applied position. The upper or outer margin of theplate 4 at the central portion thereof is provided with an outstandingrigid hand hold 5.

The walls I and. 2 and the partition wall 3 are preferably of sheetmetal of requisite gauge and weight.

Hingedly connected, as at 6, to the upper or free longitudinal marginalportion of each of the low side walls, 3, is a closure member or plate Iwhich, when in closed position, contacts the adjacent side edge portionsof the end walls 2 and which side walls3 are overlapped by the inwardlydisposed flanges.

The inner faces of the closure members or plates '1 andthe opposed,faces of the partition plate 4 have mounted thereon at selectedlocations,- suitable brackets 9 or the like forholding various tools orimplements as may be required by the artisan or mechanic.

Snugly fitting between the upper portions of the end walls 2 at oppositesides of the partition wall 4, are the trays T of desired depth forholding such articles as accessories deemed necessary I by. the artisanor mechanic. Each of the trays T is of a width to extend from thepartition plate 4 to an outer side margin of the end plates 2 and thetops thereof and in the present embodiment of the invention, each of thetrays T is held in place, by welding, as at Ill, the inner side flangell of the tray which is in close contactwith a face of the partitionplate 4. p

The outer side walls l2 of the trays T extend a material distanceoutwardly beyond the end walls-2 of the body B as do the end walls l4.Each end wall i4 is common to the adjacent ends of both trays T. Eachend wall M has its top edge a disposedirom the opposite ends disposedupwardly and inwardly to a relatively large central recess i=5.

Interposed between the central top portions 3 top or crown member l6which substantially bridges the space between the upper portions of theend walls l4.

The bottom wall I! of the top or crown member I6 at the transversecenter thereof is provided therealong from one end to the other, theupstanding flanges |8 spaced apart a distance closely approximating thethickness of the partition plate 4 to snugly receive therebetween theupper marginal portion of the plate 4. The upper or top margins of theflanges |8 are connected therealong by the integral cap strip I9 whichcontacts from above the top edge face of the plate 4.

The space between the flanges l8 at their junction with the bottom wallH is open to provide a slot 20 so that the top or crown member may bereadily placed in position and effectively supported by the partitionplate 4.

Associated with each of the trays T is an upwardly and inwardly swinginglid 2|, the inner longitudinal margin of which having disposedtherealong, a depending flange 22 which extends into the top or crownmember l6 and hasclose contact with the inner face'of a side wall 23 ofthe top or crown member l6' when the lid 2| is in closed position. Thelid 2| when in closed position rests upon the edges a of the end walls Hand the outer longitudinal margin of the lid carries a depending flange24 which overlies the upper marginal portions of the outer side wall l2of a tray. The end margins of the lid 2| are provided with the dependingflanges 25 which overlie the top marginal portions of the end walls |4.

Rigidly held to the inner face of each of the flanges 22 is a leaf 26 ofa hinge H, the coacting leaf 21 being rigidly held to the bottom wall llof the top or crown member l6.

Hingedly connected, as at 28, to each of the lids 2| at substantiallythelongitudinal centers thereof, is an end portion 'of ahasp member H ofa length to extend outwardly beyond the adjacent outer side wall |2 of atray T. The outer portion 29 of the hasp H is inwardly or downwardlydisposed and is of substantially V-form with the apex outwardlydisposed. This portion 29 is of such dimensions to bridge an outwardlydirected drip ledge 30 which extends along each outer side wall I2 of atray T and continues across the end walls l4 of the trays.

The outer extremity of the portion 29 of one of the hasp members 29 iscontinued by a foot 3| which lies fiat against an outer side wall I!when the hasp is in looking position. This foot 3| is provided with anopening 32 for registry with an opening 33 in the adjacent closuremember of plate 1 and through which registering opening is adapted to beinserted an end portion of a locking bar 34.

The locking bar 34 is slidably disposed through the guide loops 35depending from'the bottom walls 36 of the trays T preferably in closeproximity to the outer side walls ll of the trays T. The bar 34 is of alength to extend not only through and beyond the registering openings 32and 33 but also through and beyond the opening 31 in the secondclosuremember or plate I,

The end portion of the bar 34 which extends outwardly beyond the foot 3|is provided with an opening 38 through which is insertible the shackle39 of a conventional type of lock 40. The opposite end portion of thebar 34 which extends out through the opening 31 is provided with a Tslot 4| with the head b inwardly disposed and 4 the stem 0 thereof beingherein shown of a width greater than the width of the head b of the slot4|. The bar 34 is flat and of a width to allow for the slot 4|.

The extremity of the portion 29 of the second hasp H or the hasp at thesame side of the chest as the opening 4|, is continued by a shank 42 ofa width slightly less than the width of the stem 0 of the slot 4|. Theouter extremity of the shank'42 isprovided witha cross member 43 of alength slightly less than the length of the head b of the slot 4| sothat said member 43 may be readily inserted from above through the headI) of the said slot 4|.

The bar 34 is applied after the closure members or plates 1' have beenswung upwardly and inwardly into closed position. The head 43 is firstinserted from above through the head I) of the slot 4| whereby endwisemovement is given the bar 34 to bring the shank 42 into the stem c ofthe slot 4|. This movementwill place the opening 38 in the opposite endportion of the bar 34 outwardly of the adjacent closed member or'plate'I so that the applied lock will hold when desired the members or plates1 against unauthorized opening.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a toolchest constructed in accordancewith myinvention is particularly welladapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which itmay be assembled and operated.

I claim: 1.

1. A tool chest comprising a body having bottom, end and side walls,said side walls extending a relatively short distance only upward fromthe bottom wall, outwardly and downwardly opening closure members forthe open side portions of the body, a pair of trays within the topportion of the body, a lid for closing the top of each of the trays, andmeans common to the closure members and lids for releasably holding thesame in closed position. I

2. A tool chest as set forth in claim 1, wherein a vertical partitiondivides the interior of the body and extends lengthwise thereof andabove its top, the lids and the trays being positioned at opposite sidesof the partition, and means extending transversely of said body tosupport the trays in place.

3. A tool chest as set forthin claim 1, wherein a vertical partitiondivides the interior'o f the body and extends lengthwise thereof andprojects a distance above its top, a crown member mounted on the upperportion of the partition and extending therealong, said crown memberalso extending out from the opposite sides of the partition, means forhingedly connectingthe lids to the outer portions of the crown member,locking means common to said closure members and the lids, and a handhold formed in the center of the projecting portion of said partition.

:ABE H.-OLIVER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,684,036 Kennedy Sept. 11, 19282,341,308 Berry Feb. 8, 1944

